rcd triping

[sleepy]

I have recently replaced the fused spur suppling power to my bathroon lights & extracter fa with a saftysure RCD. The rcd tripped when the fan cut in so I disconected fan which fixed the problem. I have now replaced extracter fan and all was well for a week, but RCD has now tripped a couple of times for no apparent reason any ideas

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Hello sleepy....

There are loads of ideas.. Faulty cable/RCD/fan/diy work.. etc.. etc...

But we need a bit more info to start narrowing down what are the most likely...

1. Why did you replace the fused spur?
   
2. Were you getting problems before?
   
3. How old is the wiring? PVC cables.. old rubber cables?
   
4. Has the bathroom been refurbished by bathroom fitters.. or DIY refurb recently?
   
5. Have you had any professional testing done on the installation in the past few years to verify the condition of your cables?
   
6. How old is your fuse box? Are you sure you don't have any RCD protection built in to the fuse box already?
   
7. Was all the polarity and earth continuity good?
   
8. Has the RCD been tested to verify it is not oversensitive?
   

Then we also need to know...

Do you have access to any test equipment such as RCD testers and insulation resistance testers?

ut the kettle on

 

[sleepy]

1. Not to 17th addition spec

2. No

3. PVC rewired in last 10 years.

4. New LED down lighters.

5. Not known

6. Approx 10 years MCB's

7. Yes

8. No

 

[Technician]

Test RCD to criteria in OSG.

If OK investigate further in fan assembly.

Take clamp meter reads to look for any

imbalance between line and neutral if

clamp meter sensitive enough.

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

You didn't say if you have access to any test equipment such as RCD testers and insulation resistance testers?

As #5 is not known I think you need to do insulation resistance tests on the offending circuit...

Although...

This should have been done & you should have test certificates for a) re-wire in last 10 years & B) LED's fitted in bathroom..

Also LED's in bathroom should also have building reg compliance certificate.

It could be a squashed wire trapped in a joint or termination somewhere.

Need some IR test results though and some RCD operating time values as Technician says to be more certain.

BUT..

as a general rule of thumb my gut feeling is the RCD is probably working correctly and is detecting a fault in the wiring or fan or lights...

:coffee

 

[Sidewinder]

1. Not to 17th addition spec2. No

3. PVC rewired in last 10 years.

4. New LED down lighters.

5. Not known

6. Approx 10 years MCB's

7. Yes

8. No

Welcome to the forum Sleepy.

BTW it is 17th Edition, not addition! ; )

Couple of quick questions.

Who fitted the D/L's please & when?

10 yrs old takes us to 2001, so this was 16th edition territory, Yellow or Blue book, so you were required to have certs for the install, I'd have to check my books for the exact requirements, but certs is a defo, & IIRC supplementary bonding would have been required.

Is there sup' bonding?

 

[a1]

Bear in mind guys that this is in the DIY section of the forum, so please explain the tech terms that you may use.

Many thanks.

PS. Welcome to the forum, Sleepy - It's good to have you onboard.

I am just awaiting: Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy & Sneezy. :coat

 

[steptoe]

Bear in mind guys that this is in the DIY section of the forum, so please explain the tech terms that you may use.Many thanks.

PS. Welcome to the forum, Sleepy - It's good to have you onboard.

I am just awaiting: Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy & Sneezy. :coat

all present and correct,

we are already here!

 

[Sidewinder]

sleepy, Admin,

Sorry, D/L = downlighter.

I forgot the new sect Admin, and did not realise that this was in the DIY section.

Sorry all.

 

[Doc Hudson]

Bear in mind guys that this is in the DIY section of the forum, so please explain the tech terms that you may use.Many thanks.

PS. Welcome to the forum, Sleepy - It's good to have you onboard.

I am just awaiting: Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy & Sneezy. :coat

Pardon? do you call Admin? Hello Sleepy, welcome to the forum. Is the fan one with a timer so that it carries on running after you have turned the lights off? Or is it only one while the lights are on?

Doc H.

 

[sleepy]

The fan has built in sensor & timer so not dependant on lights being on. The curcuit has been working fine for about a week then then last night lights and fan not working but RCD not tripped! Manually tripped and reset RCD Lights working again. checked cuircuit for lose connections all OK. will try new RCD tonight.

 

[Doc Hudson]

I would think it is unlikely to be the RCD, it sounds more probable that you have an intermittent fault somewhere that the RCD is detecting. Did you say if you have access to any correct electrical test equipment? I certainly would not replace the RCD unless it has been tested and proved to be faulty, as this would just be a waste of money fitting another one. There are RCD testers that can verify if the RCD is operating correctly within spec. Also you would need to test the insulation of the cables on the circuit, damaged insulation could cause your symptoms. Again at there are proper test meters that can do insulation resistance tests. Have you got or can you borrow any of these? If not you will need to get an electrician to come and test the circuit correctly. Otherwise I suspect you are going to be changing RCD's Fans & lamps for months to come trying to find the problem.

Doc H.

 

[sleepy]

I have swaped RCD with one on the supply to my workshop, fault transfered to workshop. Bathroom now fine, faulty RCD replaced free of charge by supplier.

 

[batty]

They don't make them like they used too.